By Daniel Tyokua
The Acting secretary, Federal Capital Territory Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mallam Ishaq Sadeeq has disclosed that over 90% of cattle in the territory have so far been vaccinated against Anthrax disease.
He disclosed this during the inspection of the ongoing vaccination exercise on Friday in Waru community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Sadeeq said the success recorded since the flagged off of the vaccination at Paikon-Kore in Gwagwalada was in line with the federal government’s directive to states and FCT to vaccinate cattle against Anthrax.
“We are rounding up the vaccination that started at Paikon-Kore in Gwagwalada, the vaccination has exceeded our target and is ongoing.
“Our target was to vaccinate one million cattle but we have exceeded the target, as at the last count over 1.2 million livestock consisting of cattle, sheep, donkeys, goats were vaccinated.
The vaccination is ongoing because the vaccines still remain, we have started putting the vaccines in our clinics across the territory, so that anytime that those we are unable to reach during the exercise can come for the vaccination”
He appreciated the Veterinary Doctors and other health personnel involved in the exercise for working to ensure that they meet the target given by the Permanent Secretary for the vaccination.
Sadeeq stated that inspite of the proximity of Suleja where the Anthrax case was first recorded, there has not been any reported case in the FCT, a situation which he attributed to the proactive action taken by the FCT Administration.
He appealed for provisions of ambulance for surveillance and vaccination of the animals.
“In carrying out this, animals like sheep and goats, we made sure that all those that came with their animals were vaccinated, not minding if they were here in FCT or from the neighboring states.
” This will to an extent contributed to the success that we have recorded and I want to assure you that even though the exercise officially ends by the end of the week, more will still be done”
In her remarks while receiving the team, the Director Veterinary Services, Dr. Regina Ada Adulugba expressed appreciation to the Permanent Secretary in granting approval for the purchase of enough vaccines that are being utilized for the exercise.
She said that the response from livestock owners has been impressive and that the Veterinary personnel vaccinate animals throughout the day since the exercise began.
Adulugba further commended the Veterinary personnel whom she said have performed excellently during the course of the exercise
“The secretariat doesn’t owe them their allowances, we don’t delay their money.
”The heavy rains and difficult terrains didn’t not deter the personnel from carrying our responsibilities and I want to assure you that at the pace we are going, Anthrax will never find its way into the FCT “ Adulugba assured.
Leader of herders in the area, Aliyu commended the FCT Administration for supporting them, “we have never enjoyed this type of vaccination, we are impressed. But we urged the government to assist us with well treated chemicals that can help chase flies or insects on the body of our animals”
